288 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [February 
Gran that we couldn't get the sledge between the calved 
berg and the glacier without unloading it. This had 
a rather interesting outcome. I finally decided to keep 
to land ice on the principle of ' the Devil you know being 
preferable to the Devil you don't.' 
It was annoying to find that the Blue Glacier had so 
completely changed its complexion in the twelve months. 
In place of clear blue ice where one could see every 
crevasse, it was one uniform sheet of smooth snow, and 
we soon began to fall into the crevasses. In a very short 
time wc had all been in a couple of times, and it was 
evidently an unhealthy region for sledging. I deviated 
to the edge of the glacier to try and lower the sledge on 
to the sea ice ; and we soon got abreast of the calved 
berg, where we halted a few minutes. 
Away to the south-east we could see a blizzard coming 
up, and I wanted to get a snug camp in the gullies south 
of the Blue Glacier. We had an argument as to who had 
won the bet, for there was a high jumble of ice where 
the calf jammed the parent glacier. The other two 
decided in my favour, and so we pushed off on the top of 
the glacier edge to the wished-for camp. Gran was 
dissatisfied with the court's decision and kept glancing 
back to the scene under discussion. Just as we were 
dipping down the slope which cut off all view to north- 
ward he yelled out : ' Ship Ho ! ' — and there she was over 
the top of the black moraines. 
' We turned back good and quick to retraverse the 
crevasses, for she was four miles off and we were afraid 
might miss us, as a snowstorm was brewing in the cast. 
